Friction Characteristics of Water-Lubricated Stave Bearings

摘要

Experimental friction data for full-complement water-lubricated stave bearings are presented and discussed. The bearings used in the study are of similar construction to those used by the U.S. Navy for propulsion shaft support in outboard locations such as sterntube and strut bearings. Breakaway friction characteristics are compared for seven stave designs under a load of 280 kilopascals (40 pounds per square inch). The duration of load was varied from 1 minute to almost 70 hours. Dynamic friction results also are presented for each stave design under loads of 70, 280, and 700 kilopascals (10, 40, and 100 pounds per square inch, respectively) in incremental speeds up to 3.6 meters per second (700 feet per minute). The seven stave designs included two rubber compositions, two rubber hardnesses, two types of backing material, and geometrical variations. Rubber thickness and other geometrical changes had the most significant influence on dynamic friction. No correlation between static and dynamic friction was apparent. (Author)